This live-teaching series looks at four stories of God inviting unlikely people to play a big role in his action plan to save the world through Jesus. Kids will see that God has given us that same invite and we have a choice to say YES to letting God use us.

LET'S WORSHIP!

Get out of your seat, crank up these jams and rock on!

STORY

Listen to the story from week 3: Shepherds Visit Baby Jesus, Luke 2:8-20

GROUP Q&A

Week 3:
1. Who were the first people God chose to tell that Jesus was born? (shepherds)
2. Imagine being one of the shepherds. What would it have been like to see all the angels
having a party? (Discuss with group.)
3. Shepherds were not important people. Why do you think God decided to tell them first? (God thinks everyone is important. Jesus came for everyone.)
4. Why do you think God wants you to be a part of his action plan? (We are all important to God. God can use all of us. We can all tell others about Jesus.)

ASK YOUR KID

Who can we be a part of God’s plan?

PARENT BIBLE STUDY

Read: Luke 2:8-20
God could have chosen anyone to be the first to hear about the birth of Jesus. So, his choice of shepherds reveals something about God. Shepherds were not old men looking out at the rolling hills and the sheep, speaking wisdom. Bible scholars think the shepherds God chose were much younger, teenagers probably. They had no education and only a humble future of shepherding in front of them. So, in characteristic style, we see God using the weak to lead the strong.

Over and over again in the Bible, and especially in the Christmas story, we see this theme. The big message is that God’s kingdom is different. His kingdom is backwards and upside down from the way we think things work. God’s kingdom is one where the young matter. The insignificant matter. The poor matter. The people everyone else labels as “dirty” matter.

This is amazing truth. It means that no matter our status, our age, our ability, we all matter to God. So even in times when we believe that we’re not enough, that we don’t have what it takes, or that we’re too young or old or insignificant to make a difference in this world, those are exactly the moments when we can remember the shepherds. Then we can realize that it is precisely our inadequacies, our inexperience, our insignificance that makes us matter—maybe even matter more.

For the kids we see each week, this is an astoundingly powerful message. We all matter. They matter—maybe even more. God’s choice to tell the Good News to shepherds first reveals that God delights to save even the most marginalized people into the goodness of his kingdom. God sent Jesus to be born for all of us and he is enough for all of us. We all matter to him.

Read these scriptures and write down the truth of who you are to God. Here are some examples: I am valuable (Psalm 139). I am a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). I am forgiven (1 John 1:9). My past holds no power over me. God is working in me and has a purpose for my life (Philippians 2:13).

Read these truths out loud. Pray and thank God for the way he sees you and then commit to seeing yourself and others in truth.

BIBLE VERSE:

“Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example
to all believers in what you say [and] in the way you live,”
1 Timothy 4:12a.

THE BIG PICTURE

Our Elementary curriculum is written for 1st through 5th graders. Through exciting videos, or live teaching in the rooms, kids explore stories from the Bible each month. Beginning with Creation, and moving in chronological order throughout the year, kids learn that God is our Creator, his son Jesus is our Savior, and he is loving, healing, miraculous, and personal. Kids learn about baptism, how to pray, how they can be more like Jesus, and how they can help others. In a large group format, elementary kids sing and dance to worship songs, then meet fun characters and play games that introduce them to the concept of the series. After the story, kids transition to small group activities, designed to be led by an adult. We hope elementary kids learn through interactive content, and begin to grow in their understanding of who Jesus is and how to follow him.